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Paige: Rockies on mission to find five-hole hitter

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The British intelligence agency spent decades trying to discover who was the Fifth Man in the English-born, Cambridge-educated Russian spy ring.

The Rockies are attempting to identify the Fifth Man by the end of March.

Who will hit No. 5 in the order?

"I challenge somebody over there," said manager Jim Tracy, pointing emphatically with a bat toward his players, "to step up and make himself known, to take control of the fifth spot in the lineup. I don't care if he's a right-hander, a left-hander or what kind of hander.

"I want somebody who will protect the shortstop."

The shortstop is Troy Tulo- witzki, whose name will be written in indelible ink in the fourth spot in the lineup.

The qualifications are: a quasi- cleanup hitter opposing pitchers are afraid of so they aren't quick to throw carefully to, and around, Tulowitzki; a guy who will get consistent, solid at-bats; a hitter who has power and can hit for average; and a player to man up and drive in Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez.

The list, as currently written in a Paper Mate pencil with an eraser, includes a half dozen candidates: Toddy Ballgame, three veteran S's — Smith, Spil- borghs and Stewart — and the fresh meat: Ty and Jose.

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Todd Helton, who has spent a team-record 13 seasons with the Rockies, is, of course, the natural . . . if he returns to form. He has a career .324 batting average with 1,239 runs batted in — and was baseball's pitching-count killer, fouling off more advances than Lady Gaga at happy hour.

But age, an injured back, a .256 average in just 118 games last year and home run production that hasn't reached 20 since 2005 combine to make people inside and outside the organization wonder if Helton, who will be 38 in August, is fizzed out.

Helton is optimistic; Tracy is hopeful.

"Unlike in Tucson, this year we can take Todd to Mesa or somewhere else close and get him three at-bats and in game rhythm," said Tracy, who has Helton's back, and Helton isn't pampering his back.

Helton spent most of his life as a three-hole or a four-hole hitter, though. "Anywhere but eighth," he says.

Of the group, the most successful hitter at five has been, somewhat surprisingly, Ryan Spilborghs. He never has become the full-time starter the club expected, and probably will be alternated again this year with lefty Seth Smith.

However, in 13 starts as a fifth-spot batter in 2010, Spilborghs hit .322, and, over six seasons (split in Denver and Colorado Springs), has batted .320 in that position.

Smith also has bounced all over the lineup, when he hasn't served as a special pinch hitter. Last year, in a limited role as the fifth hitter, he managed only a .245 average. The Rockies tend to think of him as a No. 2 hitter.

Catcher Chris Iannetta can be ruled out. His worst spot in the lineup is fifth (.067 in four games last year). And Ian Stewart — who will be out several days after straining a knee in the spring opener Saturday — isn't strong as a five hitter, either (.198 last year). But Stewart says, "I can hit there if given the chance."

Veterans Ty Wigginton and Jose Lopez could make the Talking Stick situation intri- guing during the spring.

Wigginton, signed as a free agent in December after being with four clubs (the Orioles the last two years), is scheduled to spell Helton — or take over ultimately — at first. But he can play anywhere, including right field, his position in the Rox intrasquad game Sunday. He has been all over the lineup, but Ty's numbers have been best when he is hitting sixth.

That could be the Rockies' problem. They possess four or five players suited for sixth and seventh.

"Jose Lopez could be the guy if he comes back to the way he was hitting a couple of years ago in Seattle, and that's not a hitter's ballpark," Tracy said. "Carlos and Tulowitzki will get their hits. We need somebody at the five spot to drive in 100 runs."

In 2009, Lopez drove in 96 runs and hit 25 homers, with a total of 167 hits for the Mariners. But he dived to .239 with 10 homers and 58 RBIs in 150 games last season. If Lopez reestablishes himself in March, he could play every day at second — or displace Stewart if the third baseman fails to hit .260 for a third straight year.

Tracy does have options.

In the Rockies' best-case scenario, CarGo, Tulo and Helton/Wigginton would handle three-four-five. Dexter Fowler would lead off and Iannetta would bat eighth, and the other starters would fill in around. In the worst-case scenario, uh.

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